Cengiz Ünder Bio
Cengiz Ünder is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş, on loan from Fenerbahçe, and the Turkey national team. Standing 1.73 m tall, he has built a reputation as a quick, creative attacker capable of playing across the front line. He began his professional career at Altınordu, and later transferred to Başakşehir where he had a breakout season, establishing himself as one of the league’s best players. Cengiz Ünder has also played for several clubs including Roma, Leicester City, and Marseille, and has represented Turkey at various levels including the U21 and senior national team.
Early Life and Background
Cengiz Ünder was born on 14 July 1997 in Sındırgı, a district in the Balıkesir Province of western Turkey. Growing up in a country where football is woven into everyday life, he gravitated toward the sport from an early age and joined the youth system of Bucaspor in 2007. He spent six years developing through the ranks at Bucaspor before making the move to Altınordu’s academy in 2013, a club well known for nurturing young Turkish talent. His progression through these formative environments laid the foundation for a professional career that would soon take him across Europe’s top leagues.
Path to Soccer
Ünder’s pathway to professional football began in earnest at Altınordu, where he transitioned from the youth setup into the senior squad. He made his senior debut in 2014 and quickly impressed with his direct running and ability to beat defenders in wide areas. After two seasons of consistent development in the lower divisions, he earned a transfer to Süper Lig club Başakşehir in 2016. During his breakout season with Başakşehir, Cengiz Ünder established himself as one of the best players in the league, scoring 7 goals in 32 games in his debut season at the top level of Turkish football. That performance alerted clubs across Europe and set the stage for his move to one of the continent’s most historic leagues.
Cengiz Ünder Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Cengiz Ünder began his senior career at Altınordu, where he played from 2014 to 2016 and gained valuable first-team minutes. His form in the Turkish lower divisions earned him a transfer to Başakşehir for a reported fee of €700K. The move proved transformative, as Ünder adjusted quickly to the Süper Lig and finished his debut top-flight campaign with seven goals across 32 appearances. His combination of pace, dribbling, and end product convinced scouts that he was ready for a major European move.
Roma Breakthrough (2017–2022)
On 16 July 2017, Cengiz Ünder joined Serie A club Roma for a fee of €13.4 million. He scored his first goal for Roma in a 1–0 win over Hellas Verona on 4 February 2018, and later that month marked his Champions League debut with the opener in a 2–1 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk, becoming the youngest Turkish player ever to score in the Champions League. In his first season with Roma, he recorded 7 goals and 1 assist in 26 league games, and 1 goal in 5 Champions League matches.
On 2 October 2018, he scored a goal and made an assist in a 5–0 win over Viktoria Plzeň in a Champions League group stage match, reinforcing his reputation on the European stage. Over the following seasons, Ünder continued to feature regularly for the Giallorossi before the club opted to send him out on loan to gain further experience.
On 20 September 2020, Cengiz Ünder signed for Premier League club Leicester City on a season-long loan, with the option of a permanent transfer. He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat to West Ham United, coming on as a substitute. On 25 October, he made his first goal contribution for Leicester when he assisted Jamie Vardy’s winning goal in a 1–0 away win over Arsenal, which ended Leicester’s 47-year wait for a victory away against Arsenal. On 10 December, Ünder scored his first Leicester goal in a 2–0 home win over AEK Athens in the UEFA Europa League.
Marseille Era (2021–2023)
On 4 July 2021, Cengiz Ünder moved to France, signing for Ligue 1 club Marseille on loan, with an option to buy for €9 million. On 8 August 2021, he made his debut for the club against Montpellier, where Marseille won 3–2. The switch to Ligue 1 gave him regular minutes in a top-five European league, and he impressed with his willingness to take on defenders and deliver dangerous crosses from wide positions.
On 6 April 2022, Marseille signed Ünder permanently from Roma, penning a five-year long deal. The agreement reflected the French club’s belief in his long-term potential and gave him a stable platform to continue his development in southern France.
Fenerbahçe Era (2023–Present)
On 13 August 2023, Cengiz Ünder signed a four-year contract with Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe for a reported fee of €15 million. On 21 August, he made his debut for the side in a 2–0 away win against Samsunspor. His early months at the club were challenging, but he soon found his scoring touch in emphatic fashion.
On 20 December 2023, he scored his first goal for the club against Kayserispor in a match where Fenerbahçe won 4–3. On 7 January 2024, after a slow start to his career with the club, he scored four goals in a 5–1 win over Istanbulspor, announcing himself to the Fenerbahçe fanbase. On 20 February 2025, he joined Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on loan until the end of the season. On 12 March, he made his debut with an assist for the team in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Columbus Crew. On 29 March, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 loss to San Diego FC. On 8 September 2025, Ünder joined Süper Lig club Beşiktaş on a season-long loan with option to buy.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the pitch, Cengiz Ünder is recognized for his direct dribbling, acceleration, and willingness to run at defenders in one-on-one situations. He operates most effectively from wide areas, where he can cut inside onto his stronger foot and combine with central forwards. His tactical flexibility allows him to play as a traditional winger or shift into a forward role, and his experience across Serie A, the Premier League, Ligue 1, and the Süper Lig has helped him refine his decision-making in the final third.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Ünder’s career is his record-setting Champions League goal for Roma in February 2018, which made him the youngest Turkish player ever to score in the competition. He also delivered a four-goal performance against Istanbulspor in January 2024, a match that turned his Fenerbahçe tenure around. His career has further included spells in the Premier League, Ligue 1, and Major League Soccer, marking him as one of the most-traveled Turkish wingers of his generation.
Cengiz Ünder Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed public information about Cengiz Ünder’s parents and immediate family is limited. He grew up in Sındırgı, Balıkesir, in western Turkey, and joined the Bucaspor youth academy at a young age, a step that reflected strong family support for his football development.
Personal Life
Cengiz Ünder has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He stands 1.73 m tall and has spent most of his professional career based in the cities of his clubs, including Rome, Leicester, Marseille, Istanbul, and Los Angeles. Information regarding a spouse or children has not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been defined by movement for Cengiz Ünder, with the winger switching clubs twice within the same season. He began the year at Fenerbahçe before joining Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on loan in February 2025. He debuted with an assist in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Columbus Crew and later scored his first goal for LAFC in a 3–2 loss to San Diego FC on 29 March.
In September 2025, Ünder returned to Turkey after Beşiktaş secured his services on a season-long loan with an option to buy. The move provided him with a familiar league setting and an opportunity to play a leading role for a club competing at the top of the Süper Lig.
His form across the year has reflected both his adaptability and his ability to contribute quickly at new clubs, whether through goals, assists, or link-up play. With the Turkish league campaign underway and his international career still active, Ünder enters the final stretch of 2025 aiming to establish consistent minutes at Beşiktaş and maintain his place in the Turkey national team setup.